Jim Mollison said
October 24, 2009 at 9:39 am
Rick and Jeff,
I was one of the 80 or so TMMs that was not present for the
vote. I was in New York on a business trip. However, I would
have voted against the article — so if you wish you can put
me on the list (in spirit).
My problem with your article is more philosophical in nature
however; I do have practical objections based on the
current governmental structure within Billerica.
Having spent the last decade involved in the political and
corporate town activities the practicality of your article and
its implementation within an obviously corrupt
governmental structure has me concerned. Yes, it would be
nice to have a beautiful Town Center and a Common that is
more than a glorified crosswalk. But, the opportunity for
abuse and corruption within our Town are to high when you
open up the options under a mixed use concept and allow
the planning board to set the agenda.
Jeff, you talk about competition for TM positions yet, TM is
little more that a sham in its present form. You should know
– you are a municipal employee and Town Planner. Only
recently have the people be able to stop some of the
abuses when a 2/3rds vote is required. Our Town Meeting,
appointed boards and committees, and elect officials are
stacked with Town employees, their relatives and people
who do business with the Town. Look at the makeup of the
Parker School Building Committee that has forced us into an
override — the majority of the committee is made up of
Town and School employees. Even the School Committee
appointee works for the transportation (school bus)
company and her husband works for the school department.
Everybody needs to wise up and understand that the Town
is nothing more than a corporation that has a monopoly on
services. The checks and balances have been corrupted
and the Taxpayer is little more than a captive source of
funding – The Town is limited only by the Laws forced on it
by a initiative petition (prop 2 ½) passed years ago
Jeff my suggestion to you is to work toward getting a truly
representative government in Billerica and maybe the trust
would be there to support initiatives such as yours. [END]
October 24, 2009 at 9:39 am
Rick and Jeff,
I was one of the 80 or so TMMs that was not present for the
vote. I was in New York on a business trip. However, I would
have voted against the article — so if you wish you can put
me on the list (in spirit).
My problem with your article is more philosophical in nature
however; I do have practical objections based on the
current governmental structure within Billerica.
Having spent the last decade involved in the political and
corporate town activities the practicality of your article and
its implementation within an obviously corrupt
governmental structure has me concerned. Yes, it would be
nice to have a beautiful Town Center and a Common that is
more than a glorified crosswalk. But, the opportunity for
abuse and corruption within our Town are to high when you
open up the options under a mixed use concept and allow
the planning board to set the agenda.
Jeff, you talk about competition for TM positions yet, TM is
little more that a sham in its present form. You should know
– you are a municipal employee and Town Planner. Only
recently have the people be able to stop some of the
abuses when a 2/3rds vote is required. Our Town Meeting,
appointed boards and committees, and elect officials are
stacked with Town employees, their relatives and people
who do business with the Town. Look at the makeup of the
Parker School Building Committee that has forced us into an
override — the majority of the committee is made up of
Town and School employees. Even the School Committee
appointee works for the transportation (school bus)
company and her husband works for the school department.
Everybody needs to wise up and understand that the Town
is nothing more than a corporation that has a monopoly on
services. The checks and balances have been corrupted
and the Taxpayer is little more than a captive source of
funding – The Town is limited only by the Laws forced on it
by a initiative petition (prop 2 ½) passed years ago
Jeff my suggestion to you is to work toward getting a truly
representative government in Billerica and maybe the trust
would be there to support initiatives such as yours. [END]
Billerica is a town of about 40,000 in population. A decade
ago it was about 38,000. Buildable land is almost gone --
yet, the corporate town encourages more industry with tax
credits -- Power Plant, Home Depot, 40Bs – The corporate
Town’s motivation is driven by the desire for more revenue
and more growth --- this is not a sustainable planning or
economic strategy. [END]
ago it was about 38,000. Buildable land is almost gone --
yet, the corporate town encourages more industry with tax
credits -- Power Plant, Home Depot, 40Bs – The corporate
Town’s motivation is driven by the desire for more revenue
and more growth --- this is not a sustainable planning or
economic strategy. [END]
Jim Mollison said
October 29, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Jeff / Rick,
I cannot support the mixed use concept at this time
because of its potential for abuse and detrimental
impacts to the community and people of Billerica. While
again, I can agree in principle with the idea –
unfortunately, our political structure within the corporate
town is not structured with the appropriate checks and
balances. You may find that the actual implementation
and results of your concept -- will be much different than
expected.
My distrust of Government is a natural consequence of
having been in government (Federal) for most of my
adult life. Even our founding fathers distrusted
government – that is the reason there are so many
checks and balances built into our government. It is
when these checks and balances no longer work that
corruption becomes rampant. You are right that there is
no difference between people who work in government
and people who work in private industry—I have work in
both. Being human does make you prone to corruption –
but, the point of checks and balances in government is
to keep corruption and abuse of power in check. By
allowing those with obvious conflict of interest issues to
serve in these positions you have corrupted the system
and provide an incentive for corruption. Yes, all people
may be prone to corruption given the opportunity --- the
point is not to allow or to put them in a situation were
there is an obvious or implied conflict of interest. Why
do you think the votes change so much when TMMs are
asked that each individual stand and announce his or
her vote? I have talked to many TMMs that changed
their vote for fear of retribution at the work place or by
their union. Believe me, no one changes their votes
based on a fear of not being reelected.
Billerica is a microcosm of a political system that has lost
its way. I have served on many committees and in Town
Meeting for more than a decade. The system is broken
and a sham – committees are stacked with Town and
School employees, their relatives, people who do
business with the Town or School, and retired municipal
employees. Town Meeting is in the same condition – as
the majority of elected representatives fit into one of
these categories. This is not Representative
government and it is not even a democracy – It looks and
feels more like an oligarchy.
October 29, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Jeff / Rick,
I cannot support the mixed use concept at this time
because of its potential for abuse and detrimental
impacts to the community and people of Billerica. While
again, I can agree in principle with the idea –
unfortunately, our political structure within the corporate
town is not structured with the appropriate checks and
balances. You may find that the actual implementation
and results of your concept -- will be much different than
expected.
My distrust of Government is a natural consequence of
having been in government (Federal) for most of my
adult life. Even our founding fathers distrusted
government – that is the reason there are so many
checks and balances built into our government. It is
when these checks and balances no longer work that
corruption becomes rampant. You are right that there is
no difference between people who work in government
and people who work in private industry—I have work in
both. Being human does make you prone to corruption –
but, the point of checks and balances in government is
to keep corruption and abuse of power in check. By
allowing those with obvious conflict of interest issues to
serve in these positions you have corrupted the system
and provide an incentive for corruption. Yes, all people
may be prone to corruption given the opportunity --- the
point is not to allow or to put them in a situation were
there is an obvious or implied conflict of interest. Why
do you think the votes change so much when TMMs are
asked that each individual stand and announce his or
her vote? I have talked to many TMMs that changed
their vote for fear of retribution at the work place or by
their union. Believe me, no one changes their votes
based on a fear of not being reelected.
Billerica is a microcosm of a political system that has lost
its way. I have served on many committees and in Town
Meeting for more than a decade. The system is broken
and a sham – committees are stacked with Town and
School employees, their relatives, people who do
business with the Town or School, and retired municipal
employees. Town Meeting is in the same condition – as
the majority of elected representatives fit into one of
these categories. This is not Representative
government and it is not even a democracy – It looks and
feels more like an oligarchy.
